On February 2, the Philippine Department of Health announced the passing of a patient diagnosed with the 2019 Novel Coronavirus, the first death outside of China.
On that same day, thousands of music fans flocked to the #Plus63festival in Cebu City. Many of them were seen wearing masks as a precaution.
The music festival was the first major show I got to cover since the confirmation of nCoV in the country. It was surreal to see hoardes of attendees in masks.